Friday, July 20, 2012

Sunny Scotland (part 2)

Was a bit surprised to see two six foot middle aged blokes emerge from this tiny tent!

At last some sun! View from the Skye bridge looking toward Kyle of Lochalsh.

Stopped in the town to get some supplies.

You have to get down and beg to get money out of cash machines here.

Still sunny

Chance to dry boots out

Followed the coast road up and came across this very picturesque village of Plockton, (shame about the name though) where we had a most enjoyable cup of coffee! Clouds didnt take long to come back.

No time for such frivolous things as relaxing on this trip though! We had to keep moving!

We were now heading for Beinn Eighe. At the bottom right of this photo you can just see a couple of Swans on the small island

Closer inspection reveals them to be Mooper Swans! Check out those bills!

This one with two heads must be a Mutant Swan.

A bit further along the valley there was another loch. This time with breeding Black-throated Divers.

Two juvs

Anxious parent. Only saw the one.

Distant Golden Eagle flying away, or is it a speck of dirt on the lens?

Same photo, somewhat cropped. The bird mobbing it was some sort of bop but didnt have time to look at it.

Onwards towards the coast again and to better weather. This is the Isle of Ewe seen from the coast road. No particular species in mind here but in the past I have seen summering Great Northern Diver on the lochs.

Decided we had done enough driving for one day so doubled back to Gairloch.

Charlestown harbour. with a boat from Poole amongst the locals.

Also one from Castlebay, Barra. Quite interesting these boat codes! Might start a list!